I saw an instructable/crafty/how-to/recycle plan SOMEWHERE on teh internets showing how to make vintage game board into a box. I cannot find it! Have you seen the plans? I've searched with no luck.


Do you know of an old church getting rid of a short piece of bannister with newell posts we can use at Little Church? Mr. C. said to ask you.


St. Casserole

Paying Attention to the Wrong Things

We all do this.

No matter how attentive we may be, we miss many big things.

Praying this morning, I realized I passed up the chance to meet a new group of people because I felt overwhelmed with tasks and didn't have a face shot photo. Only today, weeks after the invitation and my rejection of the offer, did I realize what I'd done.

A colleague here in the Disaster Area got a blistering letter from a pastor. The pastor came down to put on a VBS for a church a few weeks ago. The visiting pastor believed that the church should be grateful, empty rooms for the VBS, provide particular housing, and have the colleague be present often. What she didn't realize is that my colleague serves a devastated congregation and his work is with them, not the visiting mission team. The mission team pastor paid attention to her team, her idea of a gift, her sense of how things should be done. Rather than realizing her needs were driving the week, she blamed the colleague. Wrong things.

The reality of living and doing ministry down here is this: if you come (and God knows we are grateful and need the help) come self-sustaining and handle your own stuff. The pastors and congregations are busy, exhausted and need to pay attention to their work, not your idea of the mission trip.

A child behaves in a way we don't understand. We grab the first idea we have for coping. Parenting involves pivoting to grasp what is needed for the child. I've learned this over and over with the Casseroles. Attention to the right things helps.

A church member blasts the pastor. What is going on? Could it be the member needs your attention? Is the member worried, anxious, losing hope for his future?


I'm not sure I'll ever get great at paying attention to the right things. I work on seeing and listening. I pray and listen.


St. Casserole

Interior of Little Church with sheet rock removed


Note use of different wood colors and re-cycled tongue and groove strips nailed to the wall studs.


We treated the down the street Methodists to a show Sunday. We were outside digging in the debris skip for pieces of antique wood. The Methodist drove past us sure we were nuts.


St. Casserole

Great News! Restoration of Little Church begins!

We worshipped in a pew-less sanctuary Sunday. A Virgina Church sent us new folding chairs for a Sunday School room after the storm. We used these and our other chairs to make a cozy worship space. The sanctuary looked wild!

The old sheet rock is removed so that the wood underneath is visible. The walls and ceiling look like Joseph's coat of many colors with painted boards showing in green, blue and white. These boards supported the old sheet rock and will be used to hold the new work. We speculate the boards are salvaged from the old sanctuary which burned 90 years ago. Good old Presbyies! Waste nothing. Save everything!

The old wood burning stove flue is visible. Up front, near the pulpit, the position of the stove must have comforted the preachers with warmth and shortened the sermon when the heat reminded the preacher of you-know-where.

With the sheet rock gone, the perfect acoustics of the sanctuary left, too. I had to use my ultra-powerful-seminary-trained-playground-supervisor Voice. Worshippers left with their eyebrows blown upwards.

Thank you for helping Little Church! Several of you sent money, one of you sent two large gifts TWICE! Your generosity helps us!

Those of you who contacted me about helping, call me back. Thanks!

St. Casserole, Happy

*pic is after the storm of a ceiling edge showing wood underneath. Imagine all dark wood! The sheet rock will be replaced after wiring, etc. etc. is completed!

Shhhhhhhh...


I'm in my study with one dog and two cats. One of the cats is snoring.



Cracking me up,

St. Casserole, unable to be profound all the time

2008 Books Read

Christianity for the Rest of Us Diana Butler Bass

Resurrection Rowan Williams

The Good Husband of Zebra Drive Alexander McCall Smith
The Morality for Beautiful Girls
The Miracle at Speedy Motors

Yesterday, I headed to the Mockingbird Cafe (thought of you Songbird, will smama and Little S.!) for lunch with two preacher pals. The city looks SO much better although the streets are torn up with infrastructure drainage, etc. repair. Along the Beach road, the lots are bare mostly. It's difficult to rebuild family homes when the codes aren't in place and the insurance companies say, "Oh, we didn't mean you had coverage for that..."


My pals were willing to hear a few stories from my past. I told about the day I was presented to presbytery for approval as a pastor. In those days, we were ordained where we had our first call, so the vote was for my ordination as well as reception into the presbytery. As the Committee on Ministry chair moved for my reception, the Moderator was asked by one of the commissioners, "Do we have to vote on this?" Not "vote on her" or "vote on Miss C." but vote on "this". Without missing a beat, the Moderator said, "No you can vote against it or abstain."


The vote was called for, and the motion to accept me passed.


Not one soul realized that I was the first Presbyterian clergywoman to be ordained
in the state.


Not one soul thought to apologize to me for the previous discussion.


Even I was oblivious. My eye was on the prize of being received by the Presbytery as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament.


This month of blogging about my ordination strikes me as self-serving, which, of course isn't ladylike or gentle. However, in the name of recalling what it was like 30 years ago, I've shared a few tidbits. Frankly, in some ways, clergywomen don't have it any easier than we did back then. Just sayin'.


But a call to ministry isn't about ease anyway. If you have the Call, there isn't anything to do but run through the thorn bushes towards the pulpit.


Love,

St. Casserole

(Photo: Songbird's Sandwich)

Dear Aunt Bostick,

Thirty years ago today, I entered the sanctuary of the church where I served as the associate pastor, dressed in my Geneva gown for my ordination to the Ministry of the Word and Sacrament. It was a Sunday afternoon. My parents were in the congregation along with parishioners and my Commission from Presbytery. I wrote the service with huge chunks from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer interspersed with the 1956 Book of Common Worship of the P.C.U.S. I don't recall all the hymns, but we did sing "Be Thou My Vision". I remember that hymn because I've used it at each of my installations to new congregations since.


I was awed and happy to finalize all the steps taken to ordination. I was sick to my stomach with anxiety and, probably, lack of food. In those days, I didn't eat. Please do not comment that I've been healed of eating disorders "like a miracle!" (as I've heard you say) because I'm aware that I present in human form much differently than I did 30 years ago.


My Seminary professor preached the sermon. He is a Carolinian and his wife graduated from my college so our affinity began at our first meeting. He is at the Seminary still, writing books and becoming more distinguished looking as the days pass. He was kind to come to the Deep South and be with me for the day. I gave him a piece of the pottery distinctive to this area, the one with the black stripe symbolizing the Mississippi River.


I recall that you were there. You looked at me with amazement that I was becoming a pastor. Every pastor you'd even heard of was male and here I was, in your words, "a little girl". You wondered how ministry would be for me since most people found the idea of a woman in ministry odd and somehow upsetting. You were not quite sure if I should be ordained because you couldn't find the place in the Bible where it said I could be. When you told me this, I reminded you of the Biblical cites and that my denomination approved the ordination of women. Still, you weren't sure.


The local newspaper covered my ordination as actual news, not as the natural progression of a child raised in the church who was baptised, educated and given the approbation of God's people for ordination. After the article appeared, I received all sorts of angry letters from people who believed I was going straight to Hell. I saved mail from detractors in a scrapbook. The book didn't survive the 1985 hurricane so it is just my memory of those angry notes I recall today.


I began my ministry as happy as a gal could be. I was so ready, like a puppy, to jump into whatever God placed in my path, or whatever path God led me to walk. I recall joy so piercing that I could hardly stand it.


I am grateful today for all the good influences I've encountered along my way. I'm grateful, too, for my failures and roadblocks which taught me humility, sacrifice and resourcefulness. I thank God for my calling every single day.

Your niece,

St. Casserole

What We Want to See This Summer

"NO Activity" looks great to us!


St. Casserole, hoping for a quiet Season

When I was a little RevGal, my Mother encouraged me to "eat your beets" because eating beets made one pretty, like Annette.

Memories like this make me smile.

What did your Mama tell you?

St. Casserole

Driving to Church yesterday, I came to a painful realization.
I'm at the end of the last of Alexander McCall Smith's No.1 Ladies Detective Agency audio book, the latest book in the series. The Head of the Agency* is talking with her Associate Detective about a third character who has behaved badly. Wisely, the Head concludes that the third character's behavior comes not so much from anger but from jealousy. There is anger, but it rises out of jealousy towards the Associate Director.


It came to me that as I move toward the 30th anniversary of my ordination I have wallowed around in jealousy towards colleagues whose work is more mobile than mine and who've accomplished glories I haven't.

I felt ill.
My blessings and opportunities are enough to entertain me into eternity.
I have blessings more than I can count.


I, therefore, heave aside jealousy and commit myself to returning to sanity.
Because being jealous means ingratitude and evaluating others by their exteriors.


And, Lord knows, I'm grateful for my life, as is.


St. Casserole, chastened again


*I listen to the series on CDs so I do not know how to spell the Botswana names! Beautifully read by a British actress who lived in Botswana, I recommend listening to catch the African inflections.

I wish you could see the sky here tonight. It is 8:13 p.m. CDT with soft clouds bathed in pink along with very white clouds and patches of soft blue sky. Behind the white clouds in the East, lightening appears.

St. Casserole

Why I Live Here

*because a local burglar, who didn't show up for court, was found hiding in a kitchen cabinet in his home.


*because when a caller to the newspaper said she was lonely, 8 different church people called to invite her to their church.


*because in today's obits, a woman who died of dementia is pictured smiling oddly.


*because our communities are sending relief workers and supplies to those in the Mississippi River flood areas.


Most of all, I live here because Mr. C. is here,


St. Casserole

Today's New York Times tells me White Lily Flour is moving production from Knoxville, TN to somewhere else not in the South.

Horrors! How will cooks make great biscuits?


Stunned,

St. Casserole

Busy week:

Pool emptied, painted, refilled



Yard pruned, chain-sawed, clipped



Funeral planned, liturgy ready, heart torn




Courtyard, Verbena the VAT happ



Cats, entertained by gekkos and moths




Kitchen, returned to normal, clean



Preaching, relentless return of the Sabbath, Abraham and Sarah



Life, busy, hot weather, children home, days fly by



Meetings, endless, saw progress!!!, more meetings



Is it Friday Already?,


St. Casserole

Update about FEMA's insistence that ice is a "comfort" item after a hurricane:

"An official reaction to FEMA's no-ice policy came from U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor who referred to FEMA officials as a "bunch of buttheads.", from our local paper.

We love our Congressman Gene Taylor. He's looking out for us. He understands us.

And, he called FEMA a "bunch of buttheads".



St. Casserole, laughing

Next Monday, I will stand at a graveside to lead a service for the reinterment of a child's body. The child died in the 1970's and buried in a faraway State. His mother wishes to have him near her and will bring his body back here.

The theological issues of holding on to the body after death are clear to me. The pastoral issues here speak loudly of the mother's need to have her child near her. Until now, the father did not agree to having his son's body moved. The parents divorced thirty or so years ago, after the son died.

Anyone want to help me plan this graveside service? This is my first re-interment.


The legal and funeral home regulations are fulfilled. No need to worry about those.
Of course, the cemetary will charge for opening and closing the grave. Of course, the funeral home will charge for delivery and handling the remains.

The child received Christian burial years ago. Any ideas for this re-interment?

St. Casserole

This is the world we live in. We are strangers here.
We can do better.

Just Thinking,

St. Casserole

I understand FEMA declared ice a "comfort" item and will not provide ice after a future hurricane.

Great.

We freeze water in clean plastic milk jugs and store 6-8 jugs in our freezer as storm preparation. If the power goes off, we may be able to keep some foods cool with the insulating properties of the frozen jugs. Then, we can drink the water.

However, let FEMA remember that not everyone has a freezer. Not everyone has access to bags of ice. Many people need to keep their meds cool.

Let FEMA remember that preparing for a hurricane costs money. People with limited resources have a difficult time stock-piling food and supplies, cash and money for gas to evacuate the area.

I realize that the government cannot do everything for everyone but geez! can't we help the poor and vulnerable among us?

Let me pose a bitter question: which is more cost effective: help the vulnerable evacuate to safety or clean up the bio-hazard if they die in a storm?

Glaring at FEMA (one more time),

St. Casserole

*FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency, as in "Good job, Brownie!"

Interview: Verbena the Toad

St.C.: Verbena, you are a very attractive toad.
V: Thanks, my pals call me VAT, for short.
St.C.: Tell me about yourself.
V: I'm a toad. I live in a pot of purple Verbena in your courtyard. You named me "Verbena". That's fine with me. I like to sit in the Verbena, under the leaves or hop around to the Lemon Grass planter. I'm a young toad. I like my privacy which is why I wish you wouldn't introduce me to all your giant pals.
St.C.: Sorry about the intrusion but you are interesting to me. Are you a male or female toad?
V: Gender is a social construct. The only reason I'd say what gender I was assigned to is if a toad of the opposite gender asked. In other words, not to be rude, but mind your own beeswax.
St.C.: Fine. Sorry again for intruding. Can I do anything to make your more comfortable other than showing you off to my "giant" pals?
V: Yep, tell your cat to ignore me. You know that grey cat who stays outside? I don't want to be a cat toy.
St.C.: I'll try but not much I can do with Andy.
V: OK., now, I have a question for you. Would you ask your teh internets people to remember not to use chemicals outside and to protect wetlands and stop using fertilizers made of chemicals? We outdoor creatures do the best we can to celebrate God's beautiful World but the junk in water, air and dirt is disturbing.
St.C.: I think you told people very well.
V: Get away from me! You look like you are going to kiss me! That kissing stuff is a myth and was developed because people thought we toads were gross! As if!!
St.C.: Sorry, I just wanted to look at you again.
V: Ok, time for Matins, beat it if you don't mind.

Young Dr. A., my dentist, drilled, sawed, pulled and shot my left side jaw this morning. He's a great guy about explaining everything, discussing options and appreciating my humor.

But, my mouth hurts.

I will be eating soft foods for several days. Therefore, I spent today eating Kozy Shack Rice Pudding for every meal and snack. LSiL introduced me to these puddings 3 years ago but I seldom purchase any. Too much sugar. Teh Internets tell me a sugar-free version is available but none can be found down here in Backwater.

So, while Young Dr. A. was using his talents with a drill, I reviewed all the soft foods I do not eat and chose Kozy Shack Rice Pudding.

Tomorrow, I will make fruit smoothies so I can return to Healthy Land.
Tonight, I am stuffed with rice pudding.


Keeping it silly,

St. Casserole

Thirty years ago, this month,I was ordained to the ministry of the Word and Sacrament.

I'm thinking about the years leading up to this anniversary.

But, first, I have a dental appointment.

St.Casserole

Quotidian Grace Tagged Me!

Toby Brown at Classical Presbyterian created a Start of Summer meme and tagged Quotidian Grace who tagged me. Looks like fun, so here goes:


1.) What first tells you that Summer is here?
Increased heat, humidity and the smell of sun screen.

2.) Name your five of your favorite distinctively Summer habits or customs.
***eating snow cones
***grilling
***enjoying the children being out of school
***working in the yard pruning, weeding and planting
***wearing linen clothes and sandals


3.) What is your favorite smell of Summer?
Blooming magnolias and gardenias, warm salt air, grilling


4.) What is your favorite taste of Summer?
Homemade cooked custard fresh peach ice cream, good red yard tomatoes


5.) Favorite Summer memory?
As a child, going to swimming lessons in cold water, eating ice cream cones.
As an adult, going camping with friends, going to summer camp as a counselor.
As a parent, vacations and sitting outside on the back porch, under the ceiling fans with Mr. C.

6.) Extreme heat or extreme cold? Which would you choose and why?
Please! I want better choices than these!
My favorite weather is cool mornings with warm mid-days then cool again at night.
Like at Montreat in the N.C. mountains in summertime.


7.) What books do you plan to read for the season?

Greg Illes newest book
The next Alexander McCall Smith No.1 Ladies Detective Agency book in that series.
His next Isabelle Dalohousy book and if he has another new 44 Scotland Street book, I want to read that.
Jesus for President
Finish the "working" stack of books next to my bed.

8.) How does the Summer affect your faith? Is it a hindrance or an ally?
Hurricane season is emotional for me. I'm just now seeing things look better after Katrina, almost three years ago. We've got folks in FEMA trailers still, business are struggling to get going again and our landscape is so very different. In the past, I got through hurricane season with Oreos and Cheetos. Now, I know what horror storms bring. I'll be leaning on God again this year for strength and hope.

Thanks, QG!


If anyone else wants to play, tag yourself.

Love,
St. Casserole

RevGalBlogPals Friday Five Garage Sales!

1) Are you a garage saler? Yes! I've been to three garage sales this morning. Friday sales are new to my area. If I miss a Friday sale which is advertised for Friday and Saturday, I don't go on Saturday. Good stuff is gone by the next day. I've been a garage sale-er since high school. Before that, I dug through trash when neighbors moved. My mother did not approve of this.



2) If so, are you an immediate buyer or a risk taker who comes back later when prices are lower? If the price is good, I jump immediately. If the price is high, I look more closely at the item before jumping. I found the antique oriental wool rug in my living room by jumping immediately. All I could see was the corner of the rug but I thought, "Hey! I can have car mats made out of the oriental if the rug has a damaged area!" Fortunately, the rug was perfect and perfectly worn the way one wants an antique rug to appear. I return to garage sales only if I think I may have missed something wonderful earlier. 3) Seriously, if you're not a garage saler, you are probably not going to want to play this one.(That wasn't really #3.) Why wouldn't someone want to find lovely sterling silver pieces, antiques and etc. for 'bout nothing? Who?3)




This is the real #3: What's the best treasure you've found at a yard or garage sale?
Aforementioned rug, sterling flatware and holloware, 14 kt. gold bangle bracelet, brass chandelier for our dining room, Walter Anderson prints and Shearwater pottery, Coach purses, Cole Haan new shoes in boxes, furniture and art prints. Really. Along with McCarty Mississippi pottery and tons of sterling jewelry.



4)If you've done one yourself, at church or at home, was it worth the effort? Never worth the effort. I give my stuff away to the Rescue Mission, Animal shelter or Goodwill.


5) Can you bring yourself to haggle? Oh, yes! If done politely, with a way for the seller to refuse, haggling is no problem. What is difficult is the people who think their junk is gold and look at you like you are stupid to ask for a more reasonable price. Most of their sale goes to the garbage or rescue mission thrift store after they give up trying to sell at high prices.
BONUS: For the true aficionado: Please discuss the impact of Ebay, Craig's List, Freecycle, etc... on the church or home yard/garage sale. eBay gives people the idea that their stuff is very very valuable when it may not be. Not everyone wants your unopened Barbie from Walmart bought after Christmas two years ago. A collectible is only that when people actually buy it. Otherwise, a fair price for a garage sale is 80-90% of retail if you've used the item or 75% if the item is in new pristine condition. We don't have freecycle here, but I'd love to take a load of junk to a freecycle event. Craigslist is just catching on here. So far, the stuff is like used plastic hospital urninals which have no value no matter where you try to sell them.


St. Casserole, really committed to finding treasures

Terse Week 6

We don't know what we say, even if the words are our words from our mouths.


Today:


After describing a great change in my congregation as "like a miracle", my listener said, "I told your church to do that. It was my idea". Right.

Listened to a colleague describe in lenghty detail the break-down of a friendship, all the while telling me he didn't care or feel anything about it.


I know how to be clear as mud, too.

Terse, only a bit,



St. Casserole

Terse Week 5

preaching slump? forgotten how to paint a picture with words?
listen to Alexander McCall Smith's The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency on audio books.
Smith helps you see, taste, feel and smell Botswana.
good stuff.

St.Casserole

Terse Week 4

Off Topic: Just wondering. Are these shoes on Dooce "preaching shoes"? If not, why not? I'm asking about patent leather black heels, worn under appropriate vestments.
(Picture taken by Maggie of MightyGirl at a conference in Vancouver)

Terse Week 3

This week is weird.
Feels like Monday. It's Tuesday.
Much to do. Hope to be able and gracious.
Prayers for you.

St. C.

Terse Week 2

Shelter from the Storms
Hugo. Coon Lake. Iowa.
Hail. Tornados. Misery.

Life,too.
A.,M.,J.,S.

for wars to cease,

St.Casserole

Terse Week 1

Sunday worship in pew not pulpit.

Blessings to preachers everywhere.

St.C.

Announcing.... Terse Week

Friends, I'm a bit off my feed with blogging. I suppose you know this as I didn't blog during the Fest of Homies or much before.

Therefore, I hereby announce Terse Week here at the blog.

Terse-neatly or effectively concise; brief and pithy, as language.


Festival of Homies...great...rich for my spirit...companionable...Minneapolis beautiful.

St. C

Lovely evening here. The heavy wind and rain stopped to give us a clear cool night. I wish you could hear the frogs singing outside. Textbooks may say they are singing love songs to girly frogs but I think they are singing praises to their Maker.


Estate sales tomorrow morning. Trinity Sunday coming up followed by a church picnic.



Happy here,


St. Casserole

Yesterday was so beautiful I spent the day running out into the yard grabbing weeds into bags. I was in heaven. Bug-free, cool weather with low humidity in May?

PEOPLE! MAY HERE IN THE DEEP SOUTH IS LIKE LATE AUGUST IN THE SOUTH SOUTH.

Today my right arm and shoulder, yea unto my entire right side is sore.

I needeth to learn to weedeth with both arms.


Just happy to be here,

St.Casserole

Former President Jimmy Carter and Mrs. Carter are down here to build houses for Habitat for Humanity. The plan is to build new homes, re-hab homes and prepare pre-fab parts for building later. Volunteers converged from everywhere to work.

The Rev. Mr. Bird Dog is leading devotions for the group.


Thanks, President and Mrs. Carter, for helping us.


St. Casserole

Around the House News

*Verbena, the toad, lives in the verbena pot in the courtyard.I changed Verbena's genus to "toad" after I took a good look at her beauty.


*Mr. Adventure, aka Fish, escaped last night.He remained outside until I got up at 2 a.m. to bewail his loss.He sauntered into the house happy and tired.


*The black flat seeds I picked up from the ground near the door of the C. of P. (Jesus Meets Hogwarts) are growing.Suspiciously like wisteria,I'm sure these seeds are an uncommon variety.



*Sister the Dog needs a Spa Day.She has "flavor" according to the cats.



*Hibiscus,Passion Vine,Verbena,Begonia,Petunias and others are growing and lovely in the Courtyard. I'm looking for more plants at the garden shop.


Contentedly,

St. Casserole

Parenting

LD's cell phone disappeared last week in the hands of a teacher. LD knows she isn't to use her phone at high school but did, and well, she's been without a phone for days.

She borrowed my phone and I noticed a text message from a Tennessee area code.

"Who is she texting in Tennessee?", I asked Mr. C.

"I don't know but I got one of his text messages on my phone, too."

"What did he say?"

"The text was 'I am falling for you in a big way.'"

"No kidding???"

"I thought about texting back 'Don't text me again, you a***hole."


We parents are entertained easily.


St. Casserole

Great day! Mr. C. and I drove LD to new student orientation at Art School!She's going to fly the nest for her junior and senior years to study theater.We are proud of her but sad to have her leave home early.

The school is beautiful with a combination of old college buildings restored in pleasing ways along with a new towering building of modern architecture. Wish my college had dorm rooms as large and gorgeous as these.Wish I'd had the opportunity to study art in such a place!

She's delighted.We are happy in a proud parent manner with dashes of bittersweet regret that she'll be away her final two years of high school.

Her drama teacher here told her that everyone is accepted to the school.Why he said this,I don't know. Truth is, less than half of those who apply are accepted.

Proud parent here.

Ready to preach the Acts and John passages this morning.

St. Casserole

The world is full of surprises. Take this for example.


St.Casserole

From the local newspaper's obituary page:


Everyone is invited to bring a "cold one" because if it were you, he would.


You can't make this stuff up.


St. Casserole

Cheerful Things

*kind emails from pals


*resident frog in the verbena


*wiring a lamp


*preaching on the Ascension again


*beautiful clear blue day without humidity or heat


*covering Moleskine journals with children's book pictures


*knowing I have a great power drill


St. Casserole, at the ready

Sunday Night Subconscious

nightmares all last night about being in a house with rising water breaking the house in pieces searching for my family and cat carriers while trying to remember what to carry with me to safety trying to keep everyone calm worrying that the people who won't leave will get swept away by the waters because they have loyalty to the area

St.Casserole

Books Read 2008

Carol Osborn, The Art of Resilience, Three Rivers Press. 1997 Rather like having a kind friend stand over your shoulder while you get your hope on.

Hiroko C.Kataoka, Japanese Cultural Encounters and How to Handle Them, Passport Books. 1991 Looking at the world with different eyes. Enjoyed the book.

Our friend, Rev. Books, has a new appointment HOURS FROM HERE. He'll MOVE in June to a great parish. BUT THIS MEANS HE WILL NO LONGER DRINK COFFEE WITH US ON TUESDAYS. He's been our calm and intelligent colleague for years in the Preacher Coffee Drinking Group Every Tuesday.

I will sure miss him.

He's the one who stayed with his people, despite all miseries, after Katrina. He took care of survivors, grieved the lost and cared about the community with such fierce devotion that no one will ever forget him who lived through those terrible days.

Mr. C. loses a golf partner. I lose a compassionate pal who understands if a gal is depressed or doing well and treated me with respect regardless of my mental state.

We will miss him.

When you think of a pastor who exegeted his community so that he could provide ministry, think of Rev. Books.

We met Tuesday to eat shrimp po-boys at Lil' Ray's. It's not our last meal together but each time we meet, I know we are counting down until he moves north.

I'm happy for his new appointment. He will be a blessing to them. I'm happy we kept him for this long since his system does this weird thing of uprooting and moving preachers every few years.

He says he'll begin blogging. My goal is to see him as a full member of the RGBPs.

Yours,


St. Casserole

In a few days, Mr. C. and I will celebrate our 27th anniversary. According to him, the gift for year 27 is sculpture. This stymies the gift-giving impulse mightily. Sculpture? Does the great St. Francis yard statue from several years ago count?

He's given me gifts over the years: making me laugh, surprising me with the variety of his interests, patience, pleasure in my achievements, his steady belief in my gifts as a person. The man has entertained me for 28 years. Not an easy task. If it didn't sound very sappy, I'd say, you, Mr. C. are the gift.

I salute you, Mr. C.! And, I am so glad you don't comment on my bloggage because I can't imagine what you'd say about putting up cats in costumes as the pic for our anniversary post.

St. Casserole

Things I Can Live Without

*people using toothpicks anywhere in my vision path


*whistling tunes off or on key


*drivers who ride bumpers of other drivers


*people who chain their dogs to a stake all day everyday


*beets, brussel sprouts and creamed green peas


*mosquitos, gnats and flying roaches




St. Casserole

2008 Festival of Homies

Who is going to the Festival of Homies this year?


I'll be there.



St. Casserole

Picture is from the 2008 Festival of Homiletics website.

What to do with old people in your congregation who get on your nerves?



A colleague north of here says he is hurt by the older people in his congregation who get in his way, criticise him and overall, make his work difficult.


I suggested that he think through his feelings, identify his goals for his congregation, then move in closer to those who get on his nerves.



Not easy to do, of course. You get your feelings hurt by people who dismiss you and let you know they think you aren't capable of the work you feel called to do.


Now, read that sentence as how the older people feel about how they are treated.


We preach the importance of being involved with the Church. We want people to do the work of the church, attend often and give of themselves to the Body.


What happens when people feel that they are no longer welcome to participate?


For many older people, the Church is the last place they feel their gifts, developed over a lifetime, are valued. Everywhere else they see signs offering them sausage biscuits discounted for senior citizens.


How to make peace in this situation? Move in closer to your "offending" people. Find a place to meet them where they are comfortable to talk about their lives and interests.


Nothing is sadder to me than to discover that that old guy in the over sized blazer who toddled into the sanctuary for years, was, according to his obituary, the author of three books on normative digestive patterns of the American Wolf. Now I find this out? I missed out on discussing this with him! How did he do his research? Where did he live? What was it like doing this work?



Put your feelings aside, please. Allow the older people the dignity of their last years. Do not coddle them. Do not talk down to them. Do not put them in the box marked "UNINTERESTING".


Exceptions to this are those people, of whatever age, who delight in upsetting anything going on at the church. With those people, quietly find out what is going on with them by getting to know them. Keep them close to you. If you discern, without discussing your dislike for them with everyone else, that they are damaging, go see them with your closest elder/church board member. Talk with them respectfully and if things aren't resolved with this conversation, go see them again (with a church officer) and let them know you will not allow them to do damage. You better pray yourself into a stupor before this step because if you don't, you can do great harm to them.


Let's not be remembered as the jerky pastor who told an older parishioner, "You are an old woman! Get out of my way!" Believe me, she recalled this incident to the last days she had on earth. I think of her every time I see the arrogant, now old man jerky preacher.


Yours,


St. Casserole

After Church today, I walked through T.J.Maxx looking for new porch furniture cushions. I replace cushions every year it seems because both Andy and Sister like to sit on the love seats. When you come over, I'll try to brush off the cat and dog hair, OK?

A pretty red-haired woman turned around in the aisle to say, "Do you know me?" I looked at her face. She looked as familiar as all people do as Children of God but "know" her? Nope.

She said, "How about this: That would be me!"

This did not help. I started thinking about Cheesehead. She'd say something like this.

After explaining that I had cotton balls for brains on Sunday afternoons, I admitted I couldn't say her name.

Turns out that I did her wedding 15 years ago.

When she and her husband showed up to look at the church, then meet with the preacher, they asked for the preacher. I replied, "That would be me." This reply stayed with them as a humorous moment.

I'm glad I saw them. Both are happy people, happy with each other and delighted with their work.

Note to Self: Push legislation that every person in my path wear a name tag at all times.

Love,

St. Casserole

Several Things

*First, good pickings early this morning at estate sales. I have a new rug for my study. Good thing I found one because the stop-gap World Market rug gets on my nerves. Bad news! The Garage Antiques on 25th Street in Manhattan is rumored to be closing in November. Double Rats! I've shopped the Garage each and every November for the past 10 years. My favorite sterling flatware dealer and vintage jewelry sellers table there.

*The Johnbell conference at Jesus Meets Hogwarts ended Friday. Our travel home went well. While many on the BE cruise felt the ship for days after, I hear Johnbell's voice in my head today. He is a wonderful speaker.
Go see here for Johnbell's understanding of private worship in a public space. Thanks, Ice Flue!

*Dubby the kitten is biting people and cats with tiny nippy teeth. No one knows how to make him stop. What is the gentlest way to get this kitty to change his behavior?

I missed you all. Glad to be home with my people. Looking forward to worship tomorrow with my People.

St. Casserole

I'm coming home tomorrow. Our tickets aren't on American so I hope we can get home without incident or delay.

Reports came in about the cats. Whistle and Fish took off their collars to race around nekkid. Whistle got outdoors. Unusual circumstances because Fish is modest and does not take off his collar. I don't worry about Whistle escaping because he is a faithful indoor kitty. Dubby, except for putting his big paws on Mr. C's sleeping face, has behaved well.

I am needed at home.

The conference exceeded expectations. I love this setting, too.

Time for me to come home.

Traveling mercies for us tomorrow, if the Lord says the same.

St. Casserole

Dear St. Casserole,

Last Saturday, I went to Mr. Cruthird's Cut n' Curl for a new perm.
His new girl, Fern, put the wrong solution on the rods and I look like trash. She kept saying that I needed a new look which I do not. You can tell from my picture that my usual perm is just fine.

I told Beulah Lynch where you are. She said, "DON'T TELL ME that niece of yours is out-of-town again!" She gets such a charge out of you! She worries that Mr. C. and that little one of yours won't know who you are when you get back home.

I know you are enjoying being on the Big Church grounds, singing with your preacher friends, eating food you didn't cook and acting like you belong up there.
Don't forget where you are from and what you are about. When your Mama passed, I promised to keep my hand on your shoulder so you'd have a wise woman to watch over you. My dear, it's been a pleasure and I'm proud of you. Now, go home.

You've got plenty to handle in your own part of the woods without skipping off to see your pals and learn new songs. You can learn plenty just by being at home and keeping your eyes open. I saw the pile of books in your study and on your bedside table when I dropped by to give Mr. C. the rest of that chocolate pound cake we had at the Ladies' meeting.

I've got to run. I've got a chicken salad to make for the Smith's. Her sister-in-law's brother is about dead over at the hospital. We are all worried sick.

Lovingly,

Aunt Bostick

P.S. One of your friends wrote to ask if I'd get my own blog. Maybe in the Fall, I'm too busy now.

You can't get here from there. Northwest shuffled us around, gave us wrong info and made a mess of our travel day. Two drink vouchers and an upgrade improved nothing, not even my disposition.

I am here at Beautiful Place Rather Hogwartian.

John Bell is a well-spoken teacher with humor, insight and power.

Stacey and LMK's Mom are with me. Love seeing them.

Where else can I stay in a tiny room which smells like a grandmother's home, share a bathroom with 4 other women and go to Bethlehem Chapel everyday? The food is excellent here, too.

I called Rev. Mutha to ask why she wasn't here. Seems like she should be with us for this conference.

Spring shows all over the grounds here with blooming plants and shrubs. I saw a black squirrel early this morning as he ran to prayer.

Doing fine here. Wish you were here, too.

St. Casserole

P.S. None of the preaching small group members appear to be deaf. Rats!

I'm off to the College of Preachers Monday to hear John Bell. I'll preach two sermons to people who I pray will be gentle, kind, and deaf.


You are thinking that I'm doing AN AWFUL LOT of Continuing Ed. these days.


Correct. I'm making up for about ten years of staying home with children and going to nearby events like the Turnip Preaching and Mule Pull Festival or the Karaoke Bar and Grill Homiletical Hash Run. I can't forget to mention the Delta Blues and Bible Thumpers Conference, either.

Up at the Hogwarts Meets Jesus building, I'll be grateful to see Stacey and another favorite blogger who has a cat with extra toes like my Dubby.

Wish I'd see you, too.

Love,

St. Casserole

Mr. C. says, "you haven't blogged in a long time." I say, "I'm the only BE attendee who hasn't blogged about the BE. I just can't yet."

I will TALK with you about the BE. Glad to. But WRITE about it? Not YET.

I loved the BE. That's all I'm saying now.

St. Casserole

The View From the Pew #6 Easter

Aunt Bostick here.

I've got my feet up. Easter Service went just fine. The preacher hollared until his face got red. The Chancel Choir did three special pieces and held in there until Old Dr. Hammer got wheezing. Even then, the sopranos did well except for Lolly Parks who got a hot flash under her choir robe and looked like someone sprayed a hose on her.
By the time we got to the Five Fold Amen, I was ready to go home.

The family came for lunch. I'd gotten the ham out of the oven and put the Splenda into the iced tea when they all drove up in the driveway. The girls helped me put the asparagus, tomato aspic and potato salad on the table. We had Harris-Teeter ice cream for dessert. My coconut from scratch cake days are over until I get this tennis elbow under control.

This is my last post in the "View from the Pew" for my niece. I'm worn out and ready to just watch my soaps while I knit for awhile. I've got a Reader's Digest to get through and I need to finish hemming the downstairs bathroom curtains. Enough is enough.

As St. Casserole said to me this afternoon, "Christ is Risen and the Boat is about to Dock". I know you understand what that means.

Glad to be with you girls.

Aunt Bostick

The View From the Pew Holy Week 5

Aunt Bostick here.

I've been in church so much this week that my purse is filled with bulletins.

I went by Parson's Nursery this morning to get bedding plants. We plant or buy plants on Good Friday down here. I'll put them out in the side yard tomorrow if the weather is clear.

Tonight, I'm just worn out. I'm thinking about all you gals who've churched yourselves into a stupor this week. Chin up! Sunday is coming!

Aunt Bostick

The View From the Pew Holy Week 4

Aunt Bostick here. I'm not posting my picture today. I feel every single year this morning and I need a perm.

This picture of the Old Rommny Church in the UK will do. I'm thinking about water today.

The mid-West flooding and the up East heavy rains are just perfect for Holy Week. I'm sorry for those people. Too much water ruins and kills. Too little ruins and kills. You can't cry all the time although I've tried this week.
I cried the other day most of the day. We had a good rain here even if it doesn't make up for all the dry days we've had for the past six months. Cleaned off all the plants then set them growing lickety-split.

Holy Week gets me thinking of grief. Grief makes me cry. I'm just a hanky clutching mess until Sunday. You preachers think we'll miss the boat without all the Holy Week going into Easter things but those of us who know the Story don't. Going from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday is for newcomers. The rest of us understand.

They turned my dang water off at the house. I sent my bill in by electronic computer days ago but it takes ten days or so for the Bank to send a check to the Water Department then the Water Department eats bon bons for a few more days before posting my check. Came home from pruning roses in the Church memorial garden to find a bright yellow tag on my front door. Couldn't flush. Couldn't wash my breakfast dishes left in the sink.

Water, tears, floods, rain, Baptism. Holy Week. Foot Washing. Salted water for the parsley at the Seder Meal.

I nicked my finger pruning roses. Blood ran out, not water but I'm made of water.
I've got a pitcher of filtered water in the refrigerator. I drink it all day after I've had my coffee.

We are all together in this even if we don't know we are.

Time for "The View". Those ladies crack me up.

Aunt Bostick

P.S. The Iraq War is 5 years old today. I can't celebrate.

The View From the Pew Holy Week 3

Aunt Bostick here.
I was a bit teary yesterday. The tears started yesterday morning when I took my coffee to the back porch. I sat down to watch the birds and think about the day. I was fine until I started thinking about Jesus carrying his cross to Golgotha. Thinking about that boy carrying a heavy cross through a crowd who hated him made me cry. You just know that his mother and family were devastated.

This made me think about betrayal. Jesus loved people enough to tell them the truth about life and God and then then he was murdered.

If you live long enough, you know what it feels like to be betrayed. Hurts like the devil! Crying out for justice or fairness won't work in these situations. You get hurt no matter what you do.

I heard about how Sen. Obama talked about his preacher on the news yesterday. The think that amazed me was how Sen. Obama was not going to betray his pastor by throwing him aside. The issue of Pastor Wright's comments while preaching wasn't an either/or situation for the Senator. He stood with his pastor while saying he didn't agree with his pastor's comments, even if he understood why a Preacher would say things in righteous anger.

Sen. Obama could have betrayed his pastor, even though his pastor baptized his children and celebrated his marriage. I can't recall the last time I witnessed a public figure act as well as Sen. Obama.

I got a bit teary over how it must have felt to be Pastor Wright and Sen. Obama as they looked for a way to honor each other despite disagreements.

Writing about this makes me need another hanky.

Aunt Bostick

The View From the Pew Holy Week 2

Aunt Bostick here.
While I was talking with Myrtis about Wednesday Night Bible Study, I told her about being your guest blogger. I phone all the ladies on Monday night to remind them that we have Bible Study on Wednesdays in the Church Parlor. Our Church organized in 1912 and except when we had the black-out nights during WW2, we've met on the same night in the same place at the same time. Still, as Hospitality Chairwoman, I don't want the ladies to forget. Besides, since Ethel Blanchard got the high sugar, I have to remind everyone to bring a sugar free dessert every now and then.

Anyway, Myrtis and I discussed Holy Week. She said that when Rev. Christian did that foot washing on Maundy Thursday several years ago, all she could think about was how she needed her toenails cut and didn't want anyone to see her feet. She said that she wished that one year the Church would send somebody out to the older people's homes and nursing homes and cut their toenails. "I don't need for someone to wash my feet. I understand the Servant symbolism of re-inacting Jesus washing feet. What I really need is someone to cut my toenails!" She's right. You young people do not know what it is like to not be able to cut your own toenails.

I'm glad we are in modern times where I can write about toenails. No one should be ashamed of what they can't do anymore.

Think about it.

Aunt Bostick

The View From the Pew Holy Week

Aunt Bostick here, St. C. offered posting responsibilities to me for Holy Week.

I'm going to tell you straight out what it is like to be an older Believer sitting in the pew as you young people pastor us. When I fall short of ideas, I'll phone Beulah Lynch and get her opinion, too.

First off, about Palm Sunday: I know children are wonderful and if we don't include them early in worship, we miss the opportunity to disciple them. I like hearing the children sing and participate in the Service. I do not care much for letting them talk during the Children's Worship Time because they get "cute" and distract from worship. However, this post isn't about the place of children in worship.

Please remember that most mainline type churches are filled with women like me; older, widowed, living alone or in assisted situations, often far from our families.
We'd like attention, too. You may be young but you won't (God willing) be always. We can teach you a thing or two if you'd slow down and pay attention to us.

First off, Holy Week speaks our language. We know what it is like to live with impending death. We are closer to leaving this life behind than young people. We think about it all the time. When Beulah's Buick engine blew, it took every single one of her friends to convince her she had the time to get a new car and time to enjoy it. She just wasn't sure it made sense to get another car if she was going to join the Church Triumphant in the next ten years. She's in her 80's with 20/20 vision and the strength of a 40 year old woman from bossing the Ladies Drum Corp. all these years. Who do you think loads the drum cases into the Church Van? Those things are heavy.

Second, we know what it is like to face an ambiguous future as Jesus did. We've been there and done that and it's about time Cafe Press printed a tee-shirt for us.

Third, don't you young people understand that although we've heard the story of Holy Week many, many times, that we hunger for the hope Jesus Christ offers us in our time of life?

Push the eggs n' bunnies out of the way this Holy Week and love us, your older people.

Aunt Bostick

Lovely service at Little Church today. Plenty of palms to wave, happy children in worship, blue skies and an ordination and installation! God blessed us with two new Elders. I love Little Church.

Did I tell you one of my parishioners named a baby lamb for me?

Blessings to you this Holy Week,

St. Casserole

My dear Niece,

You have not posted in four days. I know you well enough to realize that you are thinking about the BE Cruise all the time. Dear, tomorrow is Palm Sunday. Next week is Holy Week. Dear, please pay attention. Focus your thoughts on Cross and Holy Week. If I could see you right now, I know you are staring at your toes trying to decide what color polish to get for your Cruise Pedicure.

I understand that you are worried about getting a small, non-liquid gift type thing for all twenty of your gal's swag bags. You've seen what Cheesehead is giving as her swag and now you feeling competitive and crabby. Please. Bring an inexpensive swag gift for each conferee is optional. Then, no one wants anyone to spend a bunch of money on the swag. Really, you should just calm down. The cruise is about self-help and with Holy Week and Easter, you gals don't have the time to be worrying about gifts for everyone. I believe Cheesehead said this to you earlier. What about a simple paper bookmark with your blog name on it? What about a bag of hard candies, a small bag? What about a bulletin from your church?

You are worrying what to take in your luggage. Remember that you will want to be comfortable. I believe your cruise director, George, said that no one dresses up anymore and for the "fancy" night dinner if you just wear clothing rather than your tiger striped bathing suit from the thrift store, you will be fine. People will either like you or not and your clothing won't make a difference. Besides, don't people like you usually?

You are worrying about people complaining if things don't go well on the cruise or if some of the planning had rough spots. Dear, have your revgals ever planned one of these before? Thought not. Help everyone to go with the flow and put on their big girl clericals or church suits and just have fun.

Really! You young people wear yourselves out with worry and competitiveness. Chill, as we used to say.

What are you to focus upon? Jesus and him crucified! Keep your heart and mind there.

Love,

Aunt Bostick

Martha-Lee and I will be on the road for three hours this morning traveling to the funeral of a great Churchman and friend. Our friend served us well here after the Storm and we will miss his wise counsel.

What better memory to leave behind than years of faithful devotion to God through the family of faith in the Church? He was wise, visionary and kind. His death ends a 50 year marriage to a creative woman who moved down here from Maine. In addition to his service to the Church, he was a birder, gardener, and friend to many.

We'll drive to the North East portion of the State, thank God for his life then rush home to mark our Primary ballots.

You could call us before 11 a.m. CDT or in the afternoon. Just saying.

St. Casserole

Gadzooks! The Presbyterian Outlook ditched the hideous black and white covers for color!

Ben Spark's article about the 1983 Reunion of the Church and Montreat is excellent.

Didn't finish reading the magazine. The phone rang. The dog barked. People came to the door.


St. Casserole

I have Lent in my heart but Easter! on our mantlepiece.

St. C.

2008 Books Read

Elizabeth George, A Great Deliverance Inspector Lynley Mystery

Matthew Pearl, The Dante Club Very Clever

Susan Isaacs, Any Place I Hang My Hat Delightful Main Character

Caroline Alexander, The Bounty the True Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty Fascinating, well written

St. Casserole, what are you doing RIGHT now?

I am hosting a Cat Nip Party in my study to keep the kitties out of the kitchen. Mr. C. is making gumbo. He wants to cook alone.

Things I've Seen Today

Magnolia sapling for $89.00. Just bring a shovel and get one from our yard instead.

Many Amish men building a porch on a restored hurricane home.

Dubby the Kitten trying to get Andy the Alpha Cat to play with him.

Swarming fire ants upset because I stuck a stick in their mound many many times.

Tiny little birds at my kitchen window feeder.


Wish I could see you,

St. Casserole

Woo! Woo! LLS visits this week! Cannot wait to see her!
I wish LSiL could come see us, too!

St. Casserole

Happy Friday!

Ginger, one of my favorite Southern Bloggers, has this
recipe for you.

Please, make it and tell me how it tastes.

Donuts, oh donuts! you are my downfall.

St. Casserole

The Mayor of Contiguous City declared this week that seven more years are needed to recover from Katrina. The first two years were clean-up the debris years. The third and fourth years are re-build the infrastructure and the next six would be building housing and businesses.



Imagine what it is like to be a pastor down here.




The debris may be cleaned up in most places but not all. People's spirits and sense of themselves are fractured still. Admits to the psych hospital, behavioral programs and, even the medical hospitals are up. What is inside comes out.




You may be exhausted with my story of life here. I imagine I seem to be mewing endlessly.



My work is nurturing pastors and caregivers around me. This is what I do until I can't face people myself.



St. Casserole, counting the days until the BE

Books Read 2008

Excellent Women, Barbara Pym Enjoyed this book.

Many, many thanks to those of you who sent donations for Little Church. I'm in the dark about who you are unless you've told me. I do know that your response is generous.

We are ready to start with repairs. We don't have all the money we need but we are beginning.

Thank you!

Love,

St. Casserole

Ask the Captain

Dear Captain,
What should I know about going on a cruise?
---Confused

Dear Confused,



The most difficult part of a cruise is getting on the ship and off the ship. You wait in line for a good while to have your identification papers approved and enter the ship. Once there, you go to your cabin. The staff brings your luggage to your cabin. There is an emergency drill time where you put on a smelly life jacket (from your cabin), go to your assigned area, learn how to wear the jacket and what to do if the ship has a problem. This drill frightens some but just live through it. After it is over, you take your jacket back to your cabin and resume having fun.




Getting off the ship takes time, too. You are told what time to have your luggage packed and outside of your cabin on the departure date. You sit around doing nothing until your number is called, then you stand in line declaring purchases and sins for customs to re-enter the States.




Your travel agent will have luggage tags for you to place on your luggage for admittance to the ship.




Here's an important tip: your cruise costs are paid before you board the ship. Except!!!! Any alcoholic drinks, sodas*, gee-haws from the onboard shops and tips for staff are not included. Your cruise card (given when you go through processing) is used to pay for alcoholic drinks, salon visits, gift shop purchases). You don't carry money or credit cards.




Drink purchases include a tip for the server.




Coffee, tea (iced and hot) and powdered fruit drink stuff is available for no charge. You PAY FOR DIET COKES.




Some cruises include the staff tips in the cruise price. Other cruises expect you to pay a per diem tip for your cabin steward, wait staff and, for some reason, the Dining Hall King. If you don't have cash, you can charge these tips.




The Captain, no picture this time, you girls got too delighted with the last post + picture!

*soda is yankee for "soft drinks"

Ask the Captain

Dear Captain,

I've never been on a cruise before. Does the ship move much? Will I get seasick?

---Rev. Daunted

Dear D.,

Cruise ships are quite large. You may feel some motion but the anti-roll thingies keep the ship steady. People wear those dots behind their ears if they feel as if they will get sick. Bring some with you because trips to the ship's doctor cost extra.
The best thing to do is to get on the ship and have 1 drink, not 47 tiny-umbrella-fruit-juice-I'm-on-a-Cruise!!!! drinks. It's fun to watch people climb up the plank and race to the restaurant to eat as though they've never eaten before, then hit the bars and drink until they are stupid. I think those people get queasy.
I get a tad peaked when I go sailing with St. Casserole and she is at the rudder. She is a faulty sailor, at best. I think you'll do fine on the big cruise ship.

Captain

Dear Aunt Bostick,

I'm going to the RGBP BE next month. Any advice? Missing you, St.Casserole

Dear St. Casserole,

It's wonderful to hear from you. Just yesterday, I was telling Beulah Lynch the story about how you wore your vestments inside out and we laughed our heads off. Really, dear, your escapades keep us in stitches. I must remember to tell her about the time you fell out of your shoes while preaching! Keep her in your prayers; she's got competition this year for the Presidency of the Baptist Drum and Hymn Sing Association. I'm concerned her hives will act up because the stress .

I've got several things to pass on about the BE. First, get the idea of the "Love Boat" out of your head. No one dresses up for cruises anymore unless they are crossing the Atlantic. You can wear sleep pants, bedroom slippers and that ratty T-shirt and no one will care. I'm not sure people will notice. On the big dining nights, if your BE has one, be prepared to see people wearing everything from old bridesmaid dresses to bathing suit cover-ups in the dining room.

In my day, we dressed to ride airplanes. Now people look like they are on their way to the kitchen when they fly. Don't worry about your clothing. Cheesehead will be dressed better than you anyway.

Several of the RGBP gals will be exhausted from travel before they get on the ship. Help them get some rest so they can enjoy the speaker and meetings. I want all of you gals to relax, let down your hair and just be happy.

I know you talked Cheesehead into letting you room with her. Do I need to remind you to leave her things alone? Her make-up is her make-up, not yours. Try not to talk as much as you have the past few visits with her. She may want to have a thought or two without you yapping at her. Let her visit with her other friends, this isn't junior high school where you tried to pal around every second with Diane Gunn and drove her crazy. Let Cheesehead be Cheesehead without you hovering around like a crazed fly.

I hear that the speaker is going to be fabulous. Take notes so you can tell me what she says. Be sure to thank her for coming to the RGBPs because not everyone wants to be with a jiving group of clergywomen. Very few, in fact.

I hope everyone has a great time. I do not want to read about any of you in the newspaper. Try to let the other passengers get enough sleep.

Lovingly,

Aunt Bostic

The proper homiletical accountrement for sermon writing:



in Winter, the pink bathrobe with coffee stains and big pockets. In Spring and Summer, the beltless blue seersucker thrift store robe



highlighters and theUniball gold pen with teeth marks



quiet, no phone calls



cats, only if sleeping and off papers



coffee, iced tea or diet coke unless one is drinking water during Lent



do not brush your hair*



Bibles, exegetical research materials, books of poetry, P.J. James and a newspaper**



St. Casserole

*if you brush your hair, you may be tempted to run out of the house
**you-know-who suggested this

The Entire Issue of the Apple Fritter

With apologies to PPP who says I cannot tell a "short" story.


On my way in 72 degree weather to a called meeting of presby, I stopped at the bakery near the Walmart near the Wiggins. I rationalized that I eschewed sugar and fat-filled anything so well that I could risk this faraway bakery stop.


Wrong.


I ate an apple fritter filled with so much sugar and grease that I glided into the meeting sugar-contorted.



That's it. No more junk sugar stuff for me. Makes me tired. The issues before us at the meeting were troublesome. I'd begun praying for guidance on the issue days before but woke up yesterday morning realizing that no answer surfaced. Perhaps the fellowship would help me.



We met for two hours, not a long time for us, and left with a decision which made sense to me.



During the meeting, the sanctuary was pounded by rain. The drive home, now 57 degrees, was a
deluge. Mr. C. called to caution me to drive carefully. LD called to see if I was o.k.



My new phone was set so low I missed the important call.
LS went to the university clinic to get help.
He'd been unable to keep anything down and became dehydrated.
The clinic sent him to the emergency room where they gave him liquids and watched him.



I didn't know this until I got home. I didn't know that I need to go back to University town (where we met as a presby.) to see my boy.



Word came last night that he was doing better. Poor fellow! I recall becoming dehydrated in college and feeling dreadful. One of his frat buddies is a nurse at the hospital and agreed to check on LS.


I came home and went to bed at 7:30pm. Too tired and sugared out to stay awake.



All because of my bad judgement about an apple fritter.


St. Casserole, humbled

2 Years 5 Months 13 Days after Katrina

Here's what I've heard since Friday:

I've gained 25 lbs. since the Storm. I guess we were denied for so long that we keep "treating" ourselves. ---BSL resident

We've had another "Katrina Spike" at the hospital. ---hospital administrator

I went to the Coast. I can't go back, it's too sad. How can you live there? ---lawyer upstate

I can't cry. I can't eat. My stomach hurts. ---friend

I know I have PTSD. I just try to go on with it. ---friend

This is my life and the life of those around me for miles and miles. Everyday, we cope with the aftermath. The above comments aren't complaints. Just stating the facts.

St. Casserole

The Entire Issue of Procrastination

Last week, I got up early and walked to the kitchen to make coffee. It was dark outside.

After the coffee finished brewing, I poured a cup of dark roast Community coffee into my RevGalBlogPals mug and headed back to the study. For sermon prep.

After several minutes of distracted deep thoughts about Lent 1 A, I returned to the kitchen (mug in hand) for more coffee. On the way, I tripped over the hall runner near the bookcases. Sister runs through the house and, sometimes, the rug gets flipped over. I tripped on the runner and shot coffee on the floor. Or, so I thought.

I returned to my study. For sermon prep.

After another round of distracted deep thoughts on the task of preaching to the people, I got up for more coffee. As I walked past the bookcases, I looked down to check where I'd dripped coffee earlier. I saw coffee on the floor and sprayed on the bookcase.

Taking a damp cloth, I cleaned up the drips on the wood floor. I wiped up coffee fling spots off the bookcase and wall. Then I thought, "gee, wouldn't it be fun to color coordinate the books in this bookcase? Keeping books in order in this eclectic reading household is worthless anyway. Too many topics."

I reminded myself that I was working on my sermon. I thought deep thoughts.

The phone began to ring. I took call after call and while I yapped or was yapped at, I re-arranged the bookcase.

All this for sermon prep. I'm sure.

St. Casserole

Happy Mardi Gras!

We celebrate Mardi Gras big-time here. Kids are out of school Monday through Wednesday to go to parades, balls and stalk the streets.

The grocery stores are stripped of beer, cokes and King Cakes.

Three parades roll in Biloxi today. One or two in Gulfport, I think. Up and down the Coast people are catching throws at parades, drinking too much and eating as much party food as they can stand.

Some park and walk to the parade routes. Others put RVs on the route then spend the night holding their place. Most of 90 in Biloxi is cordoned off by the police to protect the route. Best seats to see the bands and floats are in front of City Halls where the bigwigs invite the powerful to catch beads, eat and drink.

Our Mardi Gras is smaller than New Orleans and, maybe, a bit quieter. I hope so because the big truck parades and famous New Orleans parades are fun if you have a safe place to view but horrendous if you are in a jostling crowd of drunks.

My favorite New Orleans parade places to watch are either from the front yard of a St. Charles Ave. home or from the balcony of the Boston Club. Here on the Coast, let me have a place at one of the City Hall stands.

Today, my favorite viewing place is right here at home.

I've enjoyed Mardi Gras for many years and this year, I do not give a hootie about any of it.

LD and Mr. C. are out getting new cell phones and trying (again!) to get LD's learner's permit for driving. Last phone call from Mr. C. said they were #120 in line. The last number called was #89. If Mr. C. is lucky, LD will be distracted by the learner's permit and he won't have to take her to a parade. Mardi Gras isn't the setting to let 15 year olds wander parentless at a parade.
Shoot! I don't want to wander without an escort at the parades either~!

Looks like I don't have to worry about this.

We are going to C. and P's to watch the Super Tuesday returns tonight. This means we can miss the night parades, too.

Eat, drink and be merry, y'all. Tomorrow is Lent.

Call me a curmudgeon,

St. Casserole

Good News!!!

E is the THE MAN!!!

Rev. Bird Dog and his congregation return to their Sanctuary!!! First time back in re-built facilities since the Sunday before Katrina blew through!!!

Mardi Gras parades today!!! Weather will hit 80 degrees!!! Eighty Degrees!!!

Happy as a Cat in the Sunshine,

St. Casserole

Obama Yes We Can